Hackers Modify Zeus to Create Bogus Social Media Buzz

Facebook “likes” and the number of Twitter followers a company has are a very real commodity, so it’s no wonder that someone has been enterprising enough to now sell that commodity in a new Zeus-based fraud scheme.

Researchers at RSA, as reported by Reuters, have uncovered a reboot of the Zeus financial crimeware Trojan, now modified to create bogus buzz by creating “likes” and followers on Instagram. They’re being sold in batches of 1,000 in underground hacker forums, alongside credit card data and personal information on consumers.

The pricing is indicative of the value of the goods: $15 will get you 1,000 Instagram followers, while 1,000 Instagram “likes” go for $30. In comparison, RSA noted that 1,000 credit card numbers cost just $6.

SOURCE: infosecurity-magazine.com